The problem with the plagiarism flap -- Obama literally repeated Deval Patrick's words from 2006 -- is that it strikes a stake in the heart of the Obama story.
Obama's campaign is based on words, verbal platitudes and uplifting rhetoric. He told us he was an original, new and fresh...that he had New Ideas, a New Way to run Washington....
But if Obama's words are somebody else's, and do not spring from his own inspirational story, then they become as irrelevant and hollow as a Super Bowl Budweiser feel-good commercial.
For political junkies, it doesn't get any better than this. Political jujitsu at its best. You take the opponent's best issue and flip it. It takes the wind out of a campaign. Your best issues are heatbreakingly turned against you.
Clearly the Clinton campaign has been quietly, patiently waiting for this character revealing gaffe from a political novice, but it may have come too late to do her much good.
The Republicans went after John Kerry's strength in the 2004 election by discrediting his patriotism, character and well-documented war hero record, with innuendos and falsehoods - a Rovian Republican tactic.
The reality is that the "words" were not stolen from Deval Patrick, they were written by David Axelrod, Obama's campaign manager, or perhaps by Obama's 26 year old speechwriter, Jon Favreau.
Favreau led the team that wrote Obama's victory speech in Des Moines -- a moment that prompted the TV pundits to drop months of skepticism about Obama's candidacy to make breathless comparisons with the Kennedy era, according to Richard Wolffe in Newsweek, January 6th, 2008.
Pundits started comparing Mr. Obama to John Kennedy and Reverend Martin L. King, Jr., but few were familiar with the oratory of a fire-n-brim-stone black church.
"What is your theory of speechwriting?" Obama asked, when he interviewed Favreau for the job.
"I have no theory," admitted Favreau. "But when I saw you at the convention, you basically told a story about your life from beginning to end, and it was a story that fit with the larger American narrative. People applauded not because you wrote an applause line but because you touched something in the party and the country that people had not touched before. Democrats haven't had that in a long time."
For his inspiration, Mr. Favreau told the NYT, "I actually read a lot of Bobby" Kennedy. "I see shades of J.F.K., R.F.K.," he said, and then added, "King."
Obama is brilliant at inspirational speeches, read from a teleprompter, before television cameras -- Obama's victory speech in Iowa. But his performance in debates, and in off the cuff speeches on the campaign trail, have been mundane.
In a debate, it is not enough to enrapture the masses. You have to use your own words and possess a complete mastery of the subject.
Obama and his supporters know that he has not done well in head to head matchups, which may be why his advisors have wisely tried to keep him away from any more debates against the well-prepared Clinton.
To be a really authentic candidate, Obama could have admitted that the words were by Favreau or Axelrod, both of whom wrote for Patrick, and admitted candidly that he relied on his team and that all candidates do.
What a refreshing statement this would have been!
In truth, Obama may have just been using the same words that Favreau originally wrote and therefore, Favreau should give back some of his pay for peddling the same words twice.
Unfortunately for Obama, this gaffe is now exposing the similarities between his campaign and that of the struggling Massachusetts Governor Patrick.
Patrick was a political newcomer who swept office on the promise of change in a campaign crafted by the same Svengali, David Axelrod, who created and packaged both of them.
Both were black and came out of nowhere. Deval, with a prep school education, is perhaps an even more gifted orator than Obama, if you watch the original "Just Words" speech.
In Massachusetts, a groundswell for change, and promises of change, were not enough for Patrick to produce change. Patrick eventually needed to succeed in the tough, stalemated political system that he was criticizing, and he failed miserably.
Deval tried to ignore the real world politics that dominated the Massachusetts legislature and quickly became bogged down with rookie mistakes. He squandered the goodwill of the voters and many of them turned against him. Many Democrats regretted their votes for someone they now consider a false prophet.
The Obama campain tells its supporters not to discuss policy... stick to the inspirational story and promises of change and hope. They are afraid that policy discussions will only bring out enemies.
Let Obama be what the voters want him to be -- is the theme campaign workers are told to stress.
The upcoming campaign will not be easy for any Democrat. We are out there without a net. Is there a hidden anti-black vote? Is there an anti-woman vote? Many entrenched interests - including the corporate war machine - will do and say anything to keep control of the White House and keep their coffers gushing.
We saw the Dark Forces at work against the Clintons, Gore and Kerry. A vicious right wing conspiracy is waiting to swing into action like a pack of wild dogs. The demonization will begin immediately.
This is going to be a tough fight. Is poetry going to be enough? And what if that poetry turns out to be somebody else's words?
jfleetwood@aol.com
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No.
So it's only plagiarism if the words come from a less well known source? How about a book someone likes and assumes many folks are familiar with but apparently are not, or a throw away line from the Simpsons? Or an uncredited source who works for them?
Anybody ever hear of speech writers? Every politician has them. When a candidate uses their words is it plagiarism if credit is not given, like--Hey, glad you all liked my speech, I didn't write it, by the way, just thought you should know.
No, this is about desperation and distraction. It's verbal swiftboating.
Or are you so deep into denial that you couldn't recognize the truth if it hit you over the head?
The sooner you accept the reality that Obama is a fake, the better off you'll all be.
She is smart,hard working,experienced and very thick skinned.Obama is inspirational and also smart,but NOT ready.Let him run in 2016.
The right wing media has done a good job of demonizing the Clintons for 16yrs,but if you honestly look at Hillary's life and accomplishments she she is one smart,strong and compassionate person and like she says will be READY on Day 1.
Is it any ones claim, that Senator Obama does not believe in these ideals?
I THINK NOT!
To the contrary, Senator Obama is eloquently expressing his heart felt relationship to our basic American ideals.
I personal share his feelings, as do many other Americans, We, the People... Hold this *truth* to be self-evident.
Then anger: "Who is this upstart? Two years in the Senate and he thinks it's his turn?"
Then bargaining: "Clinton/Obama '08!" (DBI is still in this stage)
Then depression: "If only the media weren't so sexist. They think Obama walks on water."
Finally, acceptance.
So should every singer announce the songwriter with every song sung?
Should Leno and Letterman credit a jokewriter for every funny line?
Should Hillary Clinton have credited the ghostwriter for her book, It Takes a Village?
Should she have credited Obama for "fired up, ready to go?" And her own speechwriters and other sources?
I have written numerous speeches and "talking points" for elected officials. Sometimes I'm asked to insert a joke or to add an historical reference or some such thing. Sometimes other people will give me suggestions. It's just the way things are done. There's no way policitians would have time to get anything done if they had to spend their whole time writing their own speeches.
So, this all boils down to one of the oldest tricks in the book and, unless Hillary is willing to stand up and say she herself has never used another person's words, then this whole thing says a lot more about her than it does about Obama.
I guess she could start by finally giving credit to her ghostwriter for It Takes a Village. The woman is still very upset that Hillary has never acknowledged her.
I mean, do you think what the Right Wing Smear Machine unleashed on the Clintons is any worse than what they will get from disaffected Democrats, Independents, and Obama Republicans if they strong arm their way into the Nomination at the Convention?
My friend, it will be a bloodbath for the Clintons and the Democratic Party in November.
I think we have reached a point where Clinton supporters are immune to attacks on their Candidate and Obama supporters as well ... the positions have calcified.
The showdown will be in Denver.
From the "Psychologist" story:
I guess I have another word to add to the list...
PLAGIARIST, DRUGS, CULT, BLACK, CULT, DRUGS, PLAGIARIST...
I've said it before but it bears repeating, when there isn't anything good to say about your candidate I guess this is what passes for "support".
Q: What's that stench?
A: The desperation emanating from the Clinton camp.
OBAMA '08
I guess they figure is they throw enough s--t on the wall, something will stick. This is what HRC and her supporters offer us. No thanks.
If these lame attacks don't work on half the Democrats, what chance in hell does she have of them working on Republicans and Independents?
You got it.
I can't wait to read what kind of "dirt" the Clinton campaign comes up with about Obama next. Overdue library book in the fourth grade, maybe?
Your article should be enough to make the Obama-ites wake up, but it won't.
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Obama's campaign is based on words, verbal platitudes and uplifting rhetoric.
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I say bullshit! It is the Clinton campaign that is making the case that Obama's orator gifts make it impossible for him to have substance. Obama is certainly not making that argument. He actually has a much more impressive legislative record than Senator Clinton.
EVERY pro-Clinton blog on the HuffPo seems to be spewing lies and distortions. I could understand a mistake here and there in the heat of battle, but all of you are playing the same dirty tricks trying to distort Obama's words and deeds.
If you think Hillary Clinton is the best candidate and if you think she would make the best president, that's fine. That is your pregrogitive. And if so, please tell us why you think she is better and stop spreading lies and distortions about Obama.
Why on earth would you do the Republicans dirty work for them? Shame on you!
It must be one more crazy-making thing on what is probably Mrs Clinton's long list of infuriating things about Mr Obama, that he can read other people's words in a more sincere and natural way than she can.
Clearly Mr Patrick collaborated with Mr Obama in the nature of speechwriting.
If only Molly Ivins could come back to life to find words for something as simultaneously despicable and ridiculous as this flap.